Battery rack

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a battery rack including: a housing; a plurality of battery modules stacked in the housing; and a connection member configured to electrically connect the plurality of battery modules, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes a plurality of battery submodules stacked on each other, and each of the plurality of battery submodules comprises: at least one cooling member; and a plurality of battery cells located on both sides with the at least one cooling member interposed therebetween, wherein at least two of the plurality of battery cells are located on each of both sides of the at least one cooling member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/394,718 filed on Apr. 25, 2019, which claims priority toKorean Patent Applications No. 10-2018-0048503 filed on Apr. 26, 2018 inthe Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery rack.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, it is necessary for an energy storage system (ESS) to have along life in order to be used in a product for a long period time.However, when battery cells included in the battery rack arecontinuously exposed to a high temperature environment, the batterycells may be rapidly deteriorated, or safety problems such as ignitionor explosion may occur.

In this regard, cooling fans are installed for each battery moduleprovided in a conventional battery rack to cool the battery cells in theart. However, in this case, there are problems in that a large amount ofenergy is consumed and costs are increased, as well as, there is alimitation in cooling efficiency because it depends on simple aircooling by an outside air.

Meanwhile, in a case of the conventional battery rack, there is alimitation in the number of battery cells housed in each of a pluralityof battery modules forming the battery rack, and there is also alimitation in improvements in an aspect of an energy density such asincreasing the number of battery cells per unit volume.

As an example of the prior art, Korean Patent Registration No.10-1278506, which is registered on Jun. 19, 2013, discloses a racksystem of a battery module for energy storage, however, still has lackof improvement in the energy density and life-span properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide abattery rack capable of increasing cooling efficiency of a plurality ofbattery cells of each battery module housed in a housing.

In addition, another object of embodiments of the present invention isto provide a battery rack in which a cooling member in contact with aplurality of battery cells comes into direct contact with an externalrefrigerant (outside air), such that cooling efficiency may be improved.

Further, another object of embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a battery rack in which one battery module may be provided withmore than two times battery cells therein than the conventional batteryrack.

Further, another object of embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a battery rack in which the number of battery rack componentssuch as module controllers installed for each battery module and modulebus bars included in each battery module is decreased, such that costsand time during manufacturing may be reduced.

Further, another object of embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a battery rack capable of minimizing a risk of safety accidentduring connecting a plurality of battery submodules in each batterymodule.

Further, another object of embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a battery rack in which cooling fans may be provided on one sideof an entire battery rack to effectively cool a plurality of batterymodules.

Further, another object of embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a battery rack capable of uniformly cooling a plurality ofbattery modules when the entire battery rack is provided with a coolingfan on one side thereof.

Further, another object of embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a battery rack that may have sufficient structural durabilitywithout a separate module case for housing a plurality of battery cells.

Further, another object of embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a battery rack capable of reducing the number of battery modulesper battery rack from one-half to one-third of the conventional batteryrack.

Furthermore, another object of embodiments of the present invention isto provide a battery rack capable of efficiently forming a high-voltagebattery rack system for an energy storage system (ESS).

In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a battery rack including: ahousing; a plurality of battery modules stacked in the housing; andconnection members configured to electrically connect the plurality ofbattery modules, wherein each of the plurality of battery modulesincludes a plurality of battery submodules stacked on each other, andeach of the plurality of battery submodules includes: at least onecooling member; and a plurality of battery cells located on both sideswith the at least one cooling member interposed therebetween, wherein atleast two of the plurality of battery cells are located on each of bothsides of the at least one cooling member.

The plurality of battery cells may be in surface contact with the atleast one cooling member.

The cooling member may include: contact parts to which the plurality ofbattery cells are in contact; and exposed parts which extends from atleast one end of the contact parts at a predetermined angle with respectto the contact parts.

The exposed part may be exposed to at least one surface of each of theplurality of battery modules.

The number of the one or more cooling members may correspond to thenumber of battery cells which are in contact with one side of the atleast one cooling member of the plurality of battery cells.

Each of the plurality of battery submodules may further include a fixingframe configured to fix and support the cooling member and the pluralityof battery cells.

Each of the plurality of battery submodules may include a first fixingframe configured to fix and support at least two of the cooling members.

Each of the plurality of battery submodules may include a second fixingframe configured to be coupled with the first fixing frame, so as tosupport the plurality of battery cells and fix positions thereof.

Each of the plurality of battery modules may include at least one fixedbeam configured to fix and support the plurality of stacked batterysubmodules.

Each of the plurality of battery modules may further include aprotective cover unit configured to protect the plurality of stackedbattery submodules, and the protective cover unit may include a frontcover unit and a rear cover unit, which are located on both sides amongouter surfaces of the plurality of battery submodules in a direction inwhich the plurality of battery submodules are stacked, and side coverunits located on sides from which electrode tabs of the batterysubmodules protrude.

Each of the plurality of battery modules may include at least one latchscrew which is coupled to the front cover unit and includes a latchgroove formed by cutting away at least a part of an outer peripheralsurface thereof inward.

Each of the plurality of battery modules may include a grip grooveformed by cutting away at least a part of the side cover unit toward thebattery submodule.

Each of the plurality of battery modules may include elastic pads eachof which is interposed between one or more battery submodules adjacentto each other in the plurality of battery submodules.

The battery rack may further include: a cooling fan located at an upperor a lower side of the plurality of stacked battery modules to dissipateheat generated from the plurality of battery modules.

The plurality of battery modules may be stacked at a predetermineddistance, and the predetermined distance may be gradually increased fromone side of the upper and lower sides, in which the cooling fan islocated, toward the other side.

The cooling fan may be located at one side of the direction in which thebattery submodules are stacked at the upper or lower side of theplurality of stacked battery modules, and a closed surface on a side, inwhich the cooling fan is located among peripheral surfaces perpendicularto the direction in which the plurality of battery modules are stacked,may be spaced apart from the plurality of battery modules at apredetermined distance.

Battery cells facing each other of the plurality of battery cells onboth sides of the at least one cooling member in each of the batterysubmodules may be connected to each other in series or in parallel, andthe plurality of battery submodules in each of the battery modules maybe connected to each other in series or parallel to.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the coolingefficiency of a plurality of battery cells of each battery moduleprovided in the housing may be increased.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, thecooling member in contact with the plurality of battery cells comes intodirect contact with the external refrigerant (outside air), such thatthe cooling efficiency may be improved.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, onebattery module may be provided with more than two times battery cellstherein than the conventional battery rack.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, thenumber of battery rack components such as module controllers installedfor each battery module and module bus bars included in each batterymodule is decreased, such that costs and time during manufacturing maybe reduced.

Further, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to minimize the risk of safety accident during connecting theplurality of battery submodule in each battery module.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, thecooling fan may be provided on one side of an entire battery rack toeffectively cool the plurality of battery modules.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, itis possible to uniformly cool the plurality of battery modules when theentire battery rack is provided with the cooling fan on one sidethereof.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, thebattery rack may have sufficient structural durability without aseparate module case for housing a plurality of battery cells.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, itis possible to reduce the number of battery modules per battery rackfrom one-half to one-third of the conventional battery rack.

Further, according to the embodiments of the present invention, ahigh-voltage battery rack system for an energy storage system (ESS) maybe efficiently formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a battery rack according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a battery module of thebattery rack according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a battery submodule includedin a battery module of the battery rack according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the battery submodule includedin the battery module of the battery rack according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the batterysubmodule and a fixed beam are coupled in the battery module of thebattery rack according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an electrical connection structurebetween a plurality of battery submodules in the battery module of thebattery rack according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a bus bar assembly included inthe battery module of the battery rack according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a front coverunit is disassembled from the battery module of the battery rackaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a rear coverunit is disassembled from the battery module of the battery rackaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a state of dissipatingheat in a plurality of battery modules disposed in the battery rackaccording to the embodiment of the present invention are dissipated;

FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating the battery rack according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a battery submodule includedin a battery module of a battery rack according to another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the battery submoduleincluded in the battery module of the battery rack according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the batterysubmodule and a fixed beam are coupled in the battery module of thebattery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the battery module of thebattery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, theseare merely illustrative examples and the present invention is notlimited thereto.

In descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention, publiclyknown techniques that are judged to be able to make the purport of thepresent invention unnecessarily obscure will not be described in detail.Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designatelike or corresponding parts throughout the several views. In addition,the terms as used herein are defined by taking functions of the presentdisclosure into account and can be changed according to the custom orintention of users or operators. Therefore, definition of the termsshould be made according to the overall disclosure set forth herein.

It should be understood that the technical spirit and scope of thepresent invention are defined by the appended claims, and the followingembodiments are only made to efficiently describe the present inventionto persons having common knowledge in the technical field to which thepresent invention pertains.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a battery rack 1 according toan embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment ofthe present invention may include a housing 20, a plurality of batterymodules 10 stacked in the housing 20, and connection members 30configured to electrically connect the plurality of battery modules 10.

At this time, at least a part among peripheral surfaces of the housing20 perpendicular to a direction in which the plurality of batterymodules 10 are stacked may be sealed, and the remaining parts of theperipheral surfaces may be opened. In particular, a side face on which afront surface of the battery module 10 is located may be opened, suchthat an operator may easily install the plurality of battery modules 10in the housing 20 during installing the battery rack 1.

Meanwhile, a closed surface 21, which is sealed among the peripheralsurfaces of the housing 20, will be described in detail below.

Further, the plurality of battery modules 10 may be electricallyconnected to each other by the connection member 30, and preferably,forms the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention with being connected in series to each other.

Meanwhile, the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention may further include a battery rack controller 50 configured tocontrol the plurality of battery modules 10.

At this time, the plurality of battery modules 10 may be connected tothe battery rack controller 50 through the connection members 30. Whenshort-circuit occurs in any one of the plurality of battery modules 10,the battery rack controller 50 may prevent a safety accident such as afire or an explosion by disconnecting the electrical connection of ahigh voltage.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the battery module 10 of thebattery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the plurality of battery modules 10included in the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention may include a plurality of battery submodules 100stacked on each other.

Specifically, the battery module 10 may include a plurality of batterysubmodules 100 stacked to face each other, and a protective cover unit200 for protecting the plurality of stacked battery submodules 100.

Meanwhile, the protective cover unit 200 may include a front cover unit210 and a rear cover unit 220, which are located on both sides amongouter surfaces of the plurality of battery submodules 100 in a directionin which the plurality of battery submodules 100 are stacked. At thistime, the plurality of battery submodules 100, the front cover unit 210and the rear cover unit 220 may be located parallel to each other.

In addition, among the outer surfaces of the plurality of batterysubmodules 100 stacked in the battery module 10, other side faces exceptfor the front cover unit 210 and the rear cover unit 220 sides may beopened to be exposed to an outside. However, it is not limited thereto,and a side face of the battery module 10, from which electrode tabs 112of the battery cell 110 protrude, may be protected from external foreignmatters by side cover units 230.

In this regard, upper and lower surfaces of the battery module 10 exceptfor the front surface, rear surface and side faces thereof may beexposed to the outside, and at least a part of a cooling member 120(illustrated in FIG. 3) to be described below may be exposed to theoutside of the battery module 10, thus to effectively dissipate heatgenerated from the plurality of battery cells.

In addition, the battery module 10 may include a first terminal 11 and asecond terminal 12 formed on the front surface thereof, which areconnected to the connection members so as to electrically connect theplurality of battery modules 10. At this time, the first terminal 11 andthe second terminal 12 are formed together on one edge portion of thefront surface of the battery module 10, such that the operator mayeasily install and manage the battery rack 1 according to the embodimentof the present invention.

Meanwhile, each of the battery modules 10 may include a grip groove 231formed by cutting away at least a part of the side cover unit 230 towardthe plurality of battery submodules 100 in the direction in which theplurality of battery submodules 100 are stacked.

Specifically, the battery module 10 of the battery rack 1 according tothe embodiment of the present invention may be formed by stacking theplurality of battery submodules 100. At this time, a predetermined spacemay be formed by cutting away a part of the side cover unit 230 inwardthe battery module 10 between an upper edge portion of a fixing frame130 of the plurality of stacked battery submodules 100 and the sidecover unit 230. That is, the grip groove 231 may be formed at an upperend of the side cover unit 230 in the direction in which the batterysubmodule 100 is stacked.

Thereby, a user or the operator may easily lift the battery module 10 bygripping the grip grooves 231, and therefore operation efficiency duringtransporting and installing the battery module 10 may be improved.

In addition, the battery module 10 of the battery rack 1 according tothe embodiment of the present invention may further include at least onelatch screw 600 which may be screwed to the front cover unit 210. Atthis time, the latch screw 600 may include a latch groove 610 formed bycutting away at least a part of an outer peripheral surface thereofinward. Thereby, the user or operator may move the battery module 10 byhooking a latch member (not illustrated) such as a handle formed in ahook shape to the latch groove 610.

That is, the user or operator may easily move the battery module 10 in ahorizontal direction by hooking the latch member such as a handle to thelatch groove 610 of the latch screw 600 coupled to the front surface ofthe battery module 10, and then pushing or pulling the battery module10. Thereby, the battery module 10 may be easily installed and movedduring installing it in the battery rack 1 according to the embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the battery submodule 100included in the battery module 10 of the battery rack 1 according to theembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective viewillustrating the battery submodule 100 included in the battery module 10of the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the plurality of battery submodules100 may include at least one cooling member 120, and the plurality ofbattery cells 110 located on both sides with at least one cooling member120 interposed therebetween.

In this case, each of the plurality of battery cells 110 included in thebattery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention mayinclude a cell body 111, and electrode tabs 112 protruding from one sideof the cell body 111. Meanwhile, in the battery submodule 100 of thebattery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, twoelectrode tabs 112 will be described based on an unidirectional polaritybattery cell 110 protruding from one side of the cell body 111, while abattery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention,which includes bidirectional polarity battery cell 110′, will bedescribed below.

In addition, at least two of the plurality of battery cells 110 may belocated on each of both sides of at least one cooling member 120arranged side by side. That is, each of the plurality of batterysubmodules 100 may include at least four battery cells 110.

At this time, each of the plurality of battery submodules 100 mayinclude at least two cooling members 120, and each of two or morebattery cells 110 on one of both sides of the battery submodule 100 maybe located corresponding to each of two or more cooling members 120.

Further, the plurality of battery cells 110 may come into surfacecontact with at least one cooling member 120. Specifically, each of theone or more cooling members 120 may include contact parts 121 which areformed in a plate shape to come into surface contact with at least onebattery cell 110, and exposed parts 122 which extend from at least oneend of the contact parts 121 at a predetermined angle with respect tothe contact parts 121. More specifically, the exposed parts 122 mayextend from at least one end of the contact parts 121 perpendicularly tothe contact part 121. Thereby, the exposed parts 122 of the coolingmember 120 form upper and lower surfaces of the battery submodule 100 tobe exposed to the outside, and the exposed parts 122 exposed to theoutside may come into contact with an outside air to be subject toconvective heat transfer. Referring to FIG. 2, it can be confirmed aconfiguration in which the exposed parts 122 of the cooling members 120in the battery module 10 are exposed to the outside.

Further, the cooling member 120 may be made of a material having a highthermal conductivity such as aluminum Al to cool the plurality ofbattery cells 110 in contact with the cooling member 120. The pluralityof battery cells 110 may be effectively cooled through the exposed parts122 which are exposed to the outside by coming into direct surfacecontact with the contact parts 121 of the highly thermal-conductivecooling member 120 in a large area. A cooling method of the battery cell110 will be described in detail below.

Meanwhile, the number of the one or more cooling members 120 may bedetermined corresponding to the number of battery cells 110 which are incontact with one side of at least one cooling member 120 of theplurality of battery cells 110.

That is, when two battery cells 110 are located at one side of onebattery submodule 100 to come into contact with at least one coolingmember 120, each of the plurality of battery submodules 100 may includetwo cooling members 120, and each of the two battery cells 110 may comeinto surface contact with the contact parts 121 of each of the twocooling members 120.

In addition, the two cooling members 120 in one battery submodule 100may be arranged side by side on the same plane. Specifically, the twocooling members 120 may be arranged side by side so that the contactparts 121 thereof are located on the same plane, thereby two batterycells 110 on one side of the two cooling members 120 may also be locatedside by side. Referring to FIG. 2, the cooling members 120 are arrangedside by side on both sides in the direction in which the plurality ofbattery submodules 100 are stacked.

Thereby, each one battery cell 110 comes into contact with both sides ofone cooling member 120, such that the possibility of electricalcommunication between at least two battery cells 110 through the coolingmember 120 on one side of one battery submodule 100 may be blocked.

However, the number of the battery cells 110 included in the batterysubmodule 100 is not limited thereto, and two or more overlapped-batterycells 110 may be located on both sides of one cooling member 120. Inthis case, one battery submodule 100 may include eight battery cells110.

Each of the plurality of battery submodules 100 may further include atleast one cooling member 120 and the fixing frame 130 for fixing andsupporting the plurality of battery cells 110.

In this case, the fixing frame 130 may include a first fixing frame 131for fixing and supporting at least one cooling member 120 so as to belocated in parallel to each other, and a second fixing frame 132 whichmay be located at the outermost side of the battery submodule 100 to becoupled to the first fixing frame 131, and may fix and support theplurality of battery cells 110 in contact with the at least one coolingmember 120 as it is coupled with the first fixing frame 131.

In addition, the second fixing frame 132 may have openings formed atportions in which the plurality of battery cells 110 are located, suchthat one side of cell bodies 111 of the plurality of battery cells 110,which is not in contact with the cooling member 120, may be exposed tothe outside through the openings.

Specifically, the first fixing frame 131 may fix and support at leasttwo cooling members 120 so that they are located in parallel to eachother. At this time, the first fixing frame 131 and the second fixingframe 132 may be made of an insulation material, such that thepossibility of electrical communication between the at least two coolingmembers 120 located in the first fixing frame 131 may be blocked.Thereby, a problem, in which at least two battery cells 110 (i.e., thebattery cells 110 on the left and right sides in the drawing) in contactwith each of the at least two cooling members 120 are electricallyconnected with each other through the cooling member 120, may beblocked.

In addition, the first fixing frame 131 may further include one or moreterminal parts 1310 which are formed at positions in contact with theelectrode tabs 112 of the plurality of battery cells 110, andrespectively include at least one fastening pin 1311.

Specifically, the at least one terminal part 1310 may be formed in thenumber corresponding to the number of electrode tabs 112 of at least twobattery cells 110 located on one side of one battery submodule 100.Herein, both sides of each terminal part 120 may be electricallyconnected with the electrode tabs 112 of the battery cells 110 which arelocated on both sides of the cooling member 120 to face each otherthrough a first bus bar 510 or the like, which will be described below.At this time, the electrode tabs 112 of the battery cells 110 facingeach other on both sides of the cooling member 120 may be formed withelectrodes having the same polarity as each other and connected inparallel to each other.

The fixing frame 130, to which the first fixing frame 131 and the secondfixing frame 132 are coupled, may include at least one beam insertionhole 133 which is formed at a position corresponding to at least onefixed beam 300 to be described below, into which the fixed beam 300 isinserted.

As described above, in the battery submodule 100 of the battery rack 1according to the embodiment of the present invention, double, triple ormore battery cells 110 may be located on the same plane. Therefore, thenumber of the battery cells 110 provided per battery module 10 may besignificantly increased compared to the conventional battery rack, andthe number of battery modules 10 per battery rack 1 may be reduced fromone-half to one-third of the conventional battery rack. Therefore, theenergy density of the entire battery rack 1 may be greatly improved.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the batterysubmodule 100 and the fixed beam 300 are coupled in the battery module10 of the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. At this time, for the convenience of description, only onebattery submodule 100 is coupled to the fixed beam 300 as illustrated inFIG. 5, but the plurality of battery submodules 100 may be coupled tothe fixed beam 300 in the same method with being stacked.

Referring to FIG. 5, each of the plurality of battery modules 10included in the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention may include at least one fixed beam 300 for fixing andsupporting the plurality of stacked battery submodules 100. At thistime, the at least one fixed beam 300 may be inserted into at least onebeam insertion hole 133 formed in the fixing frame 130 of the batterysubmodule 100 to fix and support the battery submodule 100. Meanwhile,the fixed beam 300 may be formed in a stick shape and may extend in thedirection in which the plurality of battery submodules 100 are stacked.At this time, the fixed beam 300 has a cross-section formed with atleast one corner such as a rectangular, so that the plurality of batterysubmodules 100 may be reliably fixed and supported.

As described above, the plurality of stacked battery submodules 100 maybe fixed to at least one fixed beam 300 to be maintained with beingstacked, and may ensure the structural rigidity without a separate caseor the like surrounding the outer surface thereof. Accordingly, theentire weight of the battery module 10 is decreased, such that thebattery module 10 may be easily transported and installed, as well ascosts and time during manufacturing thereof may be reduced.

Meanwhile, FIG. 5 illustrates a case in which six fixed beams 300 areinserted into the beam insertion hole 133 of the battery submodule 100,but it is not limited thereto, and any number of the fixed beams 300 maybe used so long as they can sufficiently maintain the structuralrigidity between the plurality of battery submodules 100.

In addition, at least one fixed beam 300 may be fixedly coupled to thefront cover unit 210 and the rear cover unit 220. Each of the pluralityof battery modules 10 may include elastic pads 400 each of which isinterposed between one or more battery submodules 100 adjacent to eachother in the plurality of battery submodules 100.

Thereby, the elastic member may mitigate an expansion of the pluralityof battery cells 110 in the battery submodule 100 due to swelling, andmay prevent external impact and vibration from being transmitted to thebattery cells 110. Also, since the plurality of battery submodules 100are fixed in a state in which the front cover unit 210 and the rearcover unit 220 are located on both sides in the stacking direction, itis possible to inhibit the plurality of battery cells 110 from beingexpanded in the direction in which the plurality of battery submodules100 are stacked.

Meanwhile, it is not limited the configuration in which the elasticmembers disposed between every battery submodules 100, and the batterysubmodules 100 may be disposed between two bundles or three bundlesthereof by selecting the number of bundles, as necessary.

In addition, the at least one fixed beam 300 may be firmly coupled tothe front cover unit 210 and the rear cover unit 220 by bolt and nutfastening, rivet fastening, and the like, but it is merely an example,and it is not limited to a specific fastening method.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an electrical connection structurebetween the plurality of battery submodules 100 in the battery module 10of the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a bus barassembly 520 included in the battery module 10 of the battery rack 1according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, first, as described above, the battery cells110, which are located in one battery submodule 100 and are in contactwith the same cooling member 120 to face each other, may be connected toeach other in parallel through the first bus bar 510. At this time, thefirst bus bar 510 is formed in a “U” shape, and may be electricallyconnected to the electrode tabs 112 of the battery cell 110 facing eachother by laser welding or the like. In this case, the first bus bar 510may be electrically connected to the electrode tabs 112 with beingfastened to the fastening pins 1311 of the terminal part 1310, therebyfacilitating the electrical connection operation.

However, the electrical connection method at this time is not limited tolaser welding, and ultrasonic welding, soldering, or the like may beused. In addition, it will be obviously appreciated to those skilled inthe art that the electrical connection may be performed by using anadhesive such as a bond of a physical fastening method such as screwing.

In addition, the first bus bars 510 may be connected to each other inseries by a second bus bar 521. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 7,the second bus bar 521 may be coupled integrally with the bus bar frame522 to form the bus bar assembly 520. Since the bus bar frame 522 ismade of an insulation material such as plastic, the possibility that thesecond bus bar 521 is short-circuited may be blocked.

Thereby, the operator may simply fasten and couple one bus bar assembly520 to the fastening pins 1311 formed in the plurality of bus barsubmodules 100, without having to attach the second bus bars 521 one byone for serial connection between the plurality of first bus bars 510.Therefore, it is possible to minimize risks of short-circuit and safetyaccidents that may occur during connecting the plurality of submodules100 in series. However, it will be obviously appreciated to thoseskilled in the art that the electrical connection between the pluralityof first bus bars 510 are not limited to serial connection, but may beconnected in parallel.

Further, each of the plurality of battery modules 10 included in thebattery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention mayfurther include a circuit unit 530 which is connected to the pluralityof first bus bars 510 to measure a voltage value to determine a voltagestate in the plurality of battery submodules 100. At this time, the busbar assembly 520 and the circuit unit 530 may be fastened to thefastening pin 1311 formed in the terminal part 1310.

Specifically, each of the second bus bars 521 of the bus bar assembly520 may include two fastening holes 5210 formed therein, and thefastening pins 1311 of the terminal part 1310 may be inserted into thefastening holes 5210 of the second bus bar 521. As illustrated in FIG.6, the bus bar assembly 520 may be located at upper and lower portionsof the battery module 10 to be fastened to the uppermost and lowermostfastening pins 1311, and the circuit unit 530 may be located between theupper and lower bus bar assemblies 520 to be fastened to the upper andlower fastening pins 1311.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the frontcover unit 210 is disassembled from the battery module 10 of the batteryrack 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the rear cover unit220 is disassembled from the battery module 10 of the battery rack 1according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, first, as described above, the plurality ofbattery cells 110 located on each of both sides in the direction inwhich the plurality of battery submodules 100 are stacked may beconnected in series to each other, and the serially-connected pluralityof battery cells 110 may be connected in series through the module busbar 223.

Specifically, the rear cover unit 220 may include a rear plate 221 whichis located on the battery submodule 100 side to support the stackedbattery submodule 100, the module bus bar 223, and a rear cover member222 which is located outside the module bus bar 223 to protect themodule bus bar 223 from the external foreign matters and block thepossibility of electrical communication.

Thereby, the plurality of battery submodules 100 on both sides in thestacking direction may be connected to each other in series,respectively, and then again connected in series with each other throughthe module bus bar 223.

Meanwhile, the front cover unit 210 may include a front plate 211 whichis located on the battery submodule 100 side to support the stackedbattery submodule 100, a battery management system (BMS) module 214 forcontrolling the battery module 10, a high voltage connection member 213for electrically connecting the first bus bar 510 on the front surfaceof the battery module 10 on one side of both sides in the direction inwhich the plurality of battery submodules 100 are stacked and the secondterminal 12, and a front cover member 212 which is located outside theBMS module 214 and the high voltage connection member 213 to protect thesame from the external foreign matters.

At this time, in the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, the respective BMS modules 214 installed in each ofthe plurality of battery modules 10 may be connected to each other, andthen connected to the battery rack controller 50. Thereby, the batteryrack controller 50 may control the entire battery module 10 through theBMS modules 214 installed in the plurality of battery modules 10.

In addition, a manual service device (MSD) module 215, which may selectwhether to apply voltage to the battery module 10 as it is manuallyopened or closed, may be attached to the high voltage connection member213.

As described above, the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12 ofthe battery module 10 are located together on one side through the highvoltage connection member 213 and the like. Therefore, operations forinstalling the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention and connecting the plurality of battery modules 10 may befacilitated, and when installing and transporting the battery module 10,it is possible to prevent a safety accident due to the first terminal 11and the second terminal 12 with a high voltage, through the MSD module215 installed in the high voltage connection member 213.

Meanwhile, the rear plate 221 and the rear cover member 222, as well asthe front plate 211 and the front cover member 212 may be screwedtogether by bolts or the like, but it is not limited thereto.

FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a state in which theplurality of battery modules 10 disposed in the battery rack 1 accordingto the embodiment of the present invention are cooled, and FIG. 11 is afront view illustrating the battery rack 1 according to the embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the battery rack 1 according to theembodiment of the present invention may further include a cooling fan 40located at upper or lower side of the plurality of stacked batterymodules 10 to dissipate heat generated from the plurality of batterymodules 10.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the cooling fan 40 may belocated at the uppermost end of the plurality of stacked battery modules10 to cool the plurality of battery modules 10 inside the housing 20through intake or exhaust of outside air. At this time, the exposedparts 122 of the cooling member 120 are exposed at the upper and lowersurfaces of each of the plurality of battery modules 10, such thatcooling efficiency of the battery module 10 may be increased.

That is, each of the plurality of battery cells 110 may be directlycooled by the surface-contacted cooling member 120 therewith, and inthis case, the cooling member 120 may be cooled by the outside airintroduced into a space (gap) between battery modules 10 adjacent toeach other by the cooling fan 40, thus to be doubly cooled. Therefore,the plurality of battery cells 110 may be effectively cooled. Inparticular, during cooling, the cooling member 120, which is exposed tothe upper and lower surfaces of each of the battery modules 10, may besubjected to convective heat transfer by coming into direct contact withcoolant such as outside air introduced from the outside. As describedabove, since the cooling member 120 is exposed to the upper and lowersurfaces of the battery module 10, cooling by the outside air may beperformed across a wide area.

Meanwhile, the cooling fan 40 may be located at the upper or lower sideof the plurality of stacked battery modules 10 with being mounted on thebattery rack controller 50. Further, two or more of the cooling fans 40may be disposed together on the upper or lower side of the plurality ofbattery modules 10.

In addition, the plurality of battery modules 10 may be stacked with apredetermined distance d₁ therebetween. At this time, the predetermineddistance d₁ may be gradually increased from one side on which thecooling fan 40 is located toward the other side in the direction inwhich the battery modules 10 are stacked.

Specifically, the cooling fan 40 provided in the battery rack 1according to the embodiment of the present invention is located only onone side of the upper and lower sides of the plurality of batterymodules 10, such that flow rates of the outside air flowing each of thebattery modules 10 may vary depending on the position of the cooling fan40. However, as described above, since the distance d₁ between theplurality of battery modules 10 is gradually increased from one side onwhich the cooling fan 40 is installed toward the other side (i.e.d₁₁>d₁₂>d₁₃>d₁₄>d₁₅>d₁₆>d₁₇), the flow rate of the outside air flowingbetween the adjacent battery modules 10 may be evenly maintained, andthe plurality of battery modules 10 may be uniformly cooled.

At this time, the distance d₁ between the battery modules 10 is formedin a range of 2 mm to 30 mm, such that the plurality of battery modules10 may be effectively cooled.

Meanwhile, the cooling fan 40 may be located on one side or both sidesof a direction in which the battery submodules 100 are stacked at theupper or lower side of the plurality of stacked battery modules 10.Further, when the cooling fan 40 is located on one side (i.e., in frontof or rear of the battery rack 1) in the direction in which theplurality of battery submodules 100 are stacked at the upper or lowerside of the stacked battery modules 10, the closed surface 21 on theside in which the cooling fan 40 is located among the peripheralsurfaces of the housing 20 perpendicular to the direction in which theplurality of battery modules 10 are stacked may be spaced apart from theplurality of battery modules 10 with a predetermined distance d₂.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the cooling fan 40 may be located ona back side of the battery module 10 at the upper side of the pluralityof battery modules 10 together with the battery rack controller 50, andthe closed surface 21 on the back side of the battery module 10, inwhich the cooling fan 40 is located among the peripheral surfaces(peripheral surfaces perpendicular to a paper surface in the drawings)perpendicular to the direction in which the plurality of battery modules10 are stacked in the housing 20, may be disposed apart from theplurality of stacked battery module 10 with the predetermined distanced₂.

At this time, the closed surface 21 of the housing 20 is formed in aflat plate shape that is not opened, such that it is possible to preventthe outside air flowing into the space between the battery modules 10 onthe front surface of the battery rack 1 from escaping to the outside,and define a flow path so that the inflowing outer air flows to thecooling fan side. Meanwhile, the predetermined distance d₂ of the closedsurface 21 may be formed in a range of 10 mm to 100 mm, preferably 40mm, to maximize the cooling efficiency of the plurality of batterymodules 10.

Meanwhile, directions of arrows illustrated in the schematic view ofFIG. 10 indicate directions in which the outside air flow, when suckingair inside the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention and exhausting it to the outside by the cooling fan 40. On theother hand, when sucking air outside the battery rack 1 according to theembodiment of the present invention and flowing inside by the coolingfan 40, the moving direction of the air may be reversely formed.

In addition, referring to an enlarged view of FIG. 10, it may be seenthat heat generated from the battery cell 110 is dissipated to theexposed parts 122 through the contact parts 121 of the cooling member120.

As described above, the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment ofthe present invention is located only on one side in the direction inwhich the plurality of battery modules 10 are stacked, such that theentire plurality of battery modules 10 may be efficiently cooled.Therefore, it is possible to easily control the cooling fan 40, andsignificantly reduce installation and maintenance costs compared to acase in which the cooling fan 40 is installed for each of theconventional battery modules 10.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a battery submodule 100′included in a battery module 10′ of a battery rack according to anotherembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a perspective viewillustrating a battery submodule 100′ included in the battery module 10′of the battery rack according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a plurality of battery cells 110′ of thebattery module 10′ included in the battery rack according to anotherembodiment of the present invention may be formed as a bidirectionalpolarity battery cell 110′ having two electrode tabs (112′) each ofwhich protrudes from both sides of a cell body 111′, not theunidirectional polarity battery cells 110 having two electrode taps(112) which protrude from one side of the cell body 111. At this time, astructure, in which the cooling member 120 and the battery cell 110′ arein contact with each other, may be fixed and supported by a fixing frame130′ formed by coupling a first fixing frame 131′ and a second fixingframe 132′.

Specifically, the plurality of battery cells 110′ forming the batterysubmodule 100′ may be formed as the bidirectional polarity battery cell110′. Accordingly, at least one cooling member 120′ and the batterycells 110′ which are in contact with one side of the cooling member 120′may be arranged side by side on upper and lower sides in a direction inwhich the battery submodules 100′ are stacked. At this time, in a caseof the cooling member 120′ in contact with the bidirectional polaritybattery cell 110′, an exposed part 122′ may be formed only on one siderather than the exposed part 122′ formed on the upper and lower sides ofone cooling member 120′. At least two cooling members 120′ may belocated above and below the battery submodule 100′. The exposed part122′ of at least one cooling member 120′ may form the upper and lowersurfaces of the battery module 10′.

However, even when the exposed part 122′ of the cooling member 120′ isformed only on one side, since a length of the bidirectional polaritybattery cell 110′ is formed twice the length of the unidirectionalpolarity battery cell 110, the size of the exposed part 122′ of thecooling member 120′ in contact with the unidirectional polarity batterycell 110 may also be formed twice the size of the exposed part 122 ofthe cooling member 120. In addition, since exposed areas of the exposedparts 122 and 122′ of the cooling members 120 and 120′ per unit batterycell 110 and 110′ are similar to the above description, the coolingeffect obtained by the cooling member 120′ is also similar to that ofthe battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Contacting, cooling, and like of the cooling member 120′ and the batterycell 110′ are the same as those of the unidirectional polarity batterycell 110 of the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, and therefore will not be described in detail.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the batterysubmodule 100′ and a fixed beam 300′ are coupled in the battery module10′ of the battery rack according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a batterymodule 10′ of the battery rack according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the plurality of battery submodules 100′may be structurally fixed and supported by the fixed beam 300′. At thistime, as in the case of the battery rack 1 according to the embodimentof the present invention, elastic pads 400′ are interposed between everybattery submodules 100′ or between every two bundles of the batterysubmodules 100′, thereby it is possible to prevent the plurality ofbattery cells 110′ from being expanded.

As described above, the structure and shape for forming the batterymodule 10′ by fixing the plurality of battery submodules 100′ are thesame as those of the battery rack 1 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, and therefore will not be described in detail.

Meanwhile, the plurality of battery submodules 100′ of the battery rackaccording to another embodiment of the present invention may also beelectrically connected to each other by a bus bar assembly 520′. At thistime, in the battery module 10′ of the battery rack according to anotherembodiment of the present invention, the battery submodule 100′ includesthe bidirectional polarity battery cell 110′, such that the plurality ofbattery cells 110′ located at the upper side in the drawings may beconnected to each other in series, and the plurality of battery cells110′ located on the lower side in the drawing may also be connected toeach other in series, thus to be electrically connected with each otherthrough the same configuration as the module bus bar 223.

Meanwhile, the features of a front cover unit 210′, a rear cover unit220′, and side cover units 230′ of the battery module 10′ and thecooling method of the battery rack according to another embodiment ofthe present invention are the same as those of the battery rack 1according to the embodiment of the present invention, and therefore willnot be described in detail.

Although the representative embodiments of the present invention havebeen described in detail, it will be understood by persons who have acommon knowledge in the technical field to which the present inventionpertains that various modifications and variations may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly,the scope of the present invention should not be limited to theembodiments, but be defined by the appended claims as well asequivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: Battery rack

10, 10′: Battery module

11: First terminal

12: Second terminal

20: Housing

21: Closed surface

30: Connecting member

40: Cooling fan

50: Rack controller

100, 100′: Battery submodule

110, 110′: Battery cell

111, 111′: Cell body

112, 112′: Electrode tab

120, 120′: Cooling member

121, 121′: Contact part

122, 122′: Exposed part

130, 130′: Fixing frame

131, 131′: First fixing frame

1310: Terminal part

1311: Fastening pin

132, 132′: Second fixing frame

133: Beam insertion hole

200: Protective cover unit

210, 210′: Front cover unit

211: Front plate

212: Front cover member

213: High voltage connecting member

214: BMS module

215: MSD module

220, 220′: Rear cover unit

221: Rear plate

222: Rear cover member

223: Module bus bar

230, 230′: Side cover unit

231: Grip groove

300, 300′: Fixed beam

400, 400′: Elastic pad

510: First bus bar

520: Bus bar assembly

521: Second bus bar

5210: Fastening hole

522: Bus bar frame

530: Circuit unit

600: Latch screw

610: Latch groove

d₁, d₁₁, d₁₂, d₁₃, d₁₄, d₁₅, d₁₆, d₁₇: Distance between battery modulesin stacking direction

d₂: Distance between back surface of housing and back surface of batterymodule

What is claimed is:
 1. A battery rack comprising: a housing; and aplurality of battery modules stacked inside the housing, each batterymodule having a plurality of battery submodules stacked next to eachother; wherein each of the plurality of battery submodules comprises: atleast one cooling member; and a plurality of battery cells located onboth sides with the at least one cooling member interposed therebetween,wherein the cooling member includes contact parts to which the pluralityof battery cells are in contact, and exposed parts extending from atleast one end of the contact parts at a predetermined angle with respectto the contact parts, wherein the exposed parts are exposed to at leastone surface of each of the plurality of battery modules.
 2. The batteryrack according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells are insurface contact with the at least one cooling member.
 3. The batteryrack according to claim 1, wherein the number of the one or more coolingmembers corresponds to the number of battery cells which are in contactwith one side of the at least one cooling member of the plurality ofbattery cells.
 4. The battery rack according to claim 1, wherein each ofthe plurality of battery modules comprises at least one fixed beamconfigured to fix and support the plurality of stacked batterysubmodules.
 5. The battery rack according to claim 1, wherein each ofthe plurality of battery modules further comprises a protective coverunit configured to protect the plurality of stacked battery submodules,and the protective cover unit comprises a front cover unit and a rearcover unit, which are located on both sides among outer surfaces of theplurality of battery submodules in a direction in which the plurality ofbattery submodules are stacked, and side cover units located on sidesfrom which electrode tabs of the battery submodules protrude.
 6. Thebattery rack according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality ofbattery modules comprises at least one latch screw which is coupled tothe front cover unit and includes a latch groove formed by cutting awayat least a part of an outer peripheral surface thereof inward.
 7. Thebattery rack according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality ofbattery modules comprises a grip groove formed by cutting away at leasta part of the side cover unit toward the battery submodule.
 8. Thebattery rack according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality ofbattery modules comprises elastic pads each of which is interposedbetween one or more battery submodules adjacent to each other in theplurality of battery submodules.
 9. The battery rack according to claim1, further comprising: a cooling fan located at an upper or a lower sideof the plurality of stacked battery modules to dissipate heat generatedfrom the plurality of battery modules.
 10. The battery rack according toclaim 9, wherein the plurality of battery modules are stacked at apredetermined distance, and the predetermined distance is graduallyincreased from one side of the upper and lower sides, in which thecooling fan is located, toward the other side.
 11. The battery rackaccording to claim 9, wherein the cooling fan is located at one side ofthe direction in which the battery submodules are stacked at the upperor lower side of the plurality of stacked battery modules, and a closedsurface on a side, in which the cooling fan is located among peripheralsurfaces perpendicular to the direction in which the plurality ofbattery modules are stacked, is spaced apart from the plurality ofbattery modules at a predetermined distance.
 12. The battery rackaccording to claim 1, wherein battery cells facing each other of theplurality of battery cells on both sides of the at least one coolingmember in each of the battery submodules are connected to each other inseries or in parallel, and the plurality of battery submodules in eachof the battery modules are connected to each other in series or parallelto.